We’ve been lauding the new Adams Morgan banners and it looks like NoMa has picked up their game too!

From a press release:

“The next time you’re walking around NoMa, look up! On primary corridors, you’ll see new street pole banners featuring a variety of historical images from the area’s past, the NoMa BID logo in both normal and abstracted configurations, and a dynamic CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and key, or black) color scheme. The banners, 158 in all, are part of a multifaceted effort by the BID to celebrate the neighborhood’s history.

“The BID puts up street pole banners to let people know they are in NoMa, and also to tell a story,” says Robin-Eve Jasper, BID President. “Our last set, hung in 2012 and 2014, featured graphics pointing out great things about the growing neighborhood, such as bike lanes, transit options, and beautiful landscaping where there were once empty lots. With this banner refresh, we are looking back across 150 years and highlighting things that people might not know about the area. It’s an opportunity to reveal some of NoMa’s rich history and also have a little fun.”

Eight different photographs are used for the banners, with pairs of images united by one saturated CMYK color. Each color runs for several block lengths at various points around NoMa along major roadways: North Capitol Street NE, First Street NE, the nexus of New York and Florida avenues NE, Massachusetts Avenue NE, and K, L, M, and N streets NE. Read More

Photo by flickr user airbus777

From a press release:

“On the evening of Tuesday, April 9, the NoMa Parks Foundation will turn on the power for Lightweave, a dynamic and compelling light installation in the L Street NE railway underpass. Comprising six spiraling lattices of stainless steel and bent LED tubing suspended above the underpass sidewalks — three above each passageway, hung from freestanding armatures — the artwork will light up the space 24 hours a day, with LED colors changing and moving in response to sound waves from the sidewalk spaces and vibrations from trains passing overhead. Lightweave is the second of the NoMa Parks Foundation’s planned underpass “art parks” to open and was designed by interdisciplinary San Francisco art and design firm FUTUREFORMS. The first art park — Rain, in the M Street NE underpass — opened in October 2018. Read More

Rain rendering via NoMa BID

From an email:

“Today the NoMa Parks Foundation officially opens the Rain light installation in the M Street NE underpass. The illumination event takes place this evening at the corner of M Street and Delaware Avenue NE at 6:30 p.m.”

From a press release:

“The NoMa Parks Foundation turned on the power today for Rain, a dynamic light installation in the M Street NE railway underpass. Comprising 4,000 LED-powered polycarbonate rods suspended above the underpass sidewalks, the artwork will illuminate the space 24 hours a day and pulse like gentle waves of rainfall in response to the flow of vehicular traffic beneath the elevated tracks. Rain is the first of the NoMa Parks Foundation’s four planned underpass “art parks” to open and was designed by Thurlow Small Architecture of Oakland, California, working in conjunction with Dutch firm NIO architecten in response to an international competition held by the Foundation. Read More

From the NoMa BID:

“NoMa’s largest park, located along the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) and Harry Thomas Way NE, is gearing up for construction later this year. Consistent with the wildly successful naming of Swampoodle Park (at 3rd and L streets NE), the NoMa Parks Foundation is relying on the input of community members to identify names to suggest to the DC Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser. The proposed names for the “NoMa Green” are: Gales Wood, Met Branch Commons, Tanner Park, and Union Green. Take the survey to vote.

Previously, the NoMa Parks Foundation received 112 submissions from community members, collected at a community meeting and through online outreach. Read More

hahaha thanks to Samantha for sending. Now my second favorite park sign in NoMa. Stay tuned for Swampoodle Park coming “early 2018”, not to mention the underpass art parks.

I’m still waiting on Wagamama too.

From a press release:

“There will be festive holiday caroling by the award-winning Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, free cocoa provided by Peet’s Coffee and a free cocktail at Wunder Garten for anyone who donates a new pair of pajamas to DC’s Holiday Pajama Drive for children in Washington’s foster care system. After caroling, the NoMa Parks Foundation will announce the name of their very first parK on 3rd and L St. NE. This event is FREE and open to ALL.

WHAT: Caroling on the Corner, Presented by the NoMa BID

WHEN: Tuesday, December 12 from 5:30-6:30PM

WHERE: 1150 1st St. NE (Corner of 1st and Pierce NE)”

5501 14th Street, NW

And later this week is here!! Moreland’s Tavern opens today (4pm-12am) and folks who live nearby are gonna freakout. The excitement built up for Swampoodle will finally be met at Moreland’s. I stopped by a soft opening last night and well you’ll see. Actually, the place was packed so you won’t see that well but you’ll get an idea. As we’ve known each other 11 years now, you can trust me on this one. It is legit dope. While there is a nice bar and seating on the first floor, it is really the second floor that won my heart. It is dominated by a huge triangle shaped bar that just feels super comfortable. Also they have RAR’s Nanticoke Nectar on tap. Standby for the 12 year PoPville anniversary party here next November – and in the meantime – 16th Street Heights, your neighborhood gathering spot has arrived.

Oh yeah, a super fly garden/patio is coming when it warms up again in the spring.

Update: Check out the menu here (PDF)

Many more photos after the jump. Read More

rendering 5501 14th Street, NW

This week is turning out to be a very good week indeed. Moreland’s Tavern, from a couple folks behind Boundary Stone (Bloomingdale) and DC Reynolds (Petworth), is opening later this week in the old and brief Swampoodle space at 14th/Colorado/Kennedy intersection.

Also:

“We are excited to announce our Chef partner Emily Baran. Emily who is a DC Native, graduated top of her class from L’Academie de Cuisine. Emily has honed her culinary skills at a variety of Washington DC area restaurants; spending time in fine dining restaurants and finding a home in family friendly establishments. Most recently, Emily served as sous chef at Clydes Restaurant. We are super excited to have her.”

Stay tuned for many more details and an exact opening date soon.